Zack Pianalto Class: Junior Hometown: Springdale, Ark. High School: Springdale Height / Weight: 6-4 / 240 Position: Tight End

• Honorable mention Freshman All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com
• The Sporting News First-Team Freshman All-ACC

Enters the season as the starter at tight end • Should play an important role in the offense this year • Coming off an injury-plagued 2008 season, but is healthy heading into the fall.

2008:Played in seven games and made two starts • Had seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown on the season • Suffered a fractured left fibula in the win over No. 20 Georgia Tech and missed the final four games of the year • Scored first career touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Cameron Sexton before leaving due to the injury • Missed the Virginia and Boston College games with a right ankle injury • Made a 5-yard grab against Notre Dame • Posted a 7-yard reception versus Connecticut • Made one grab for 18 yards at Miami • Had three catches for 31 yards, including a long of 16, against Virginia Tech.

2007: Started eight games at h-back/tight end • Finished fourth on the team with 24 catches for 204 yards on the season• Made one catch for eight yards vs. Duke • Had four grabs for 29 yards at Georgia Tech • Had four catches for 52 yards, including a career-best 20-yard catch, at NC State • Made a career-best six receptions for 55 yards at Wake Forest • Had one catch for five yards vs. South Carolina • Made two grabs for five yards at USF • Had five catches for 43 yards, including a long of 16 vs. Virginia • Made first career catch, a four-yard grab, at East Carolina.

Springdale High School
Ranked the No. 7 player in Arkansas by Rivals • Considered the No. 10 player in Arkansas by SuperPrep • Ranked the No. 20 tight end in the country by Scout.com • Helped lead Springdale to the 5A state championship as a junior • Had 14 receptions for 337 yards and three touchdowns as a junior despite mainly being used as a blocker • Caught 12 passes for 141 yards as a senior • Missed all but two games as a senior with a broken collarbone • From the same hometown as head coach Butch Davis • Coached by Kevin Johnson at Springdale.

Personal
Son of Sherri and Kenneth Pianalto • Born May 27, 1989 • Communications major • Favorite TV show is "American Idol" • Wears No. 17 because it's the same number his grandfather wore • Listens to the Al Pacino speech from "Any Given Sunday" before each game • Would chose to run "The Amazing Race" with his brother, Cole • Favorite NFL team is the Indianapolis Colts • Would most like to have dinner with Tiger Woods, Mike Tyson and Brett Favre • People say he looks like Eli Manning of the NY Giants • Favorite restaurant in Chapel Hill is the Italian Pizzeria III • Has a boxer dog named Red • Began playing football when he was eight because he loved all sports • Wants to one day be a football coach.